‘I wished I was there to save him’

His uncle Jonathan Feris and father Shauwen Isacks said they had hoped he would be found alive.

“The day started as normal, on Sunday afternoon after lunch when Jayden left home to play at his friend’s house, with the permission of his mother, and today his body was discovered in the riverbed,” said Feris.

He said he was informed not to go to the park as it was a bit far from home.

“Meanwhile, we were not aware that he went to that specific friend’s house that is close to the park, and there is no fence,” said Feris.

Feris said he was at home when two of Jayden’s friends ran to him to say that he had fallen in the water.

“As much as I was panicking, I also had hoped that we would get him out alive but it was more terrifying when we arrived at the scene and there was no trace of him,” he said. Feris said police also arrived at the scene and later private divers joined the search.

“The private divers initially refused to go into the water after they found out that it was sewage water, so some community members jumped in but he was not found until the divers went in today (Monday) and found him,” he said.

Feris said Jayden’s mother was not at home at the time, as she went to go collect school supplies from her sister’s place, and breaking the news to her was very difficult.

He said Jayden was just about to start Grade 1 next year and his parents were preparing by buying some stationery and black school shoes. “We stayed up calling him and searching for my nephew until 20h00, we had to go back home because it was getting dark.

“This time around the divers came with their equipment and had a conversation with the deceased’s friends, who pointed out the exact direction where he fell, and in just a few minutes the body was discovered,” he said.

Feris expressed his frustrations about the Windhoek municipality and the Namibian government not hearing their pleas, after years of complaining about the unsafe area. “It is pure negligence from the City of Windhoek and the government, as this is not the first time such an incident is happening, there are no warning signs or anything to caution the public because that is a danger zone,” he said.

Also speaking to The Namibian with tears running down her face was Jayden’s godmother and aunt, Elizabeth Cupido.

“My boy was so sweet, I am hurt because this water is something that we have been complaining about for the longest time but nothing has been done.

“A few years back twins were reported dead after they drowned in the same area, not just the danger but also the horrible smell because it is sewage water,” Cupido said.

The deceased’s mother Chantelle Mentor was still in shock and unable to utter a word.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.